Administrative

A tragedy like Newtown or Parkland could never happen in a private school, right? I certainly hope that it never does, but there are no guarantees. There are so many variables to consider in all of the mass shootings that have occurred since the Columbine attack in 1999 that it would be foolish to say that such events could not happen in a private school. Statistically, the odds of such an event are low. However, when it comes to the safety of our children, it is simply unacceptable to gamble. We, as parents and school administrators, must take steps to prevent disaster from occurring on our watch.

Equally unforeseen are natural disasters such as tornadoes, flooding, and earthquakes. Granted, certain regions of the country are more prone to these events than others. But you only have to read the news reports to realize that things can and do happen when and where you least expect them to.

So, against this gloomy backdrop, let's look at what private schools can do to protect their communities.

Protection

As I researched this article, I was impressed by the number of organizations that my search string "emergency response policy and procedure for schools" produced. You will find plenty of relevant and useful reading when you use a search string with a narrow focus.

As Benjamin Franklin wisely noted, "A pound of prevention is worth a pound of cure." While Franklin was referring to fire prevention, his

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.

For private day schools seeking to expand their reach and diversify their student body, adding a boarding component has traditionally required significant capital, staffing, and operational expertise. In recent years, however, a growing number of schools have explored a different model, outsourcing residential life to specialized third-party providers.

This approach allows schools to offer a boarding experience without building and managing dormitories independently. The model has gained traction, particularly as international student mobility rebounds and families seek structured, high-quality residential environments.

This article examines how outsourced boarding programs work, why schools adopt them, and how costs and outcomes compare to traditional boarding schools.

What Is an Outsourced Boarding Program?

An outsourced boarding program is a partnership between a day school and an external organization that manages housing, student life, and residential services. The school maintains control over academics and admissions, while the partner organization operates the dormitory and supervises students outside the classroom.

This model is especially appealing to schools that want to:

• Attract international students
• Increase enrollment without expanding campus infrastructure
• Provide a more consistent alternative to homestays
• Enhance their academic profile through greater diversity

For families, the result is a hybrid experience, combining the academic environment of a day school with the structure and supervision of a boarding program.

Case Study: Wilson International’s Model

Wilson International represents one example of this approach. Founded to support private schools in expanding their residential offerings, the company provides housing, staffing,

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.

Editor's note:

I asked Attorney Sara Goldsmith Schwartz, whose "practice is focused on the critical issues facing school administrators and leadership," to answer my questions and provide some general guidance regarding best practices for enrollment agreements. This article is intended for the information of owners, administrators, and trustees of small to medium-sized private schools. ~ Rob Kennedy

In 2026, the underlying issues discussed here remain important. Private School Review's What to Ask Before Signing an Enrollment Contract emphasizes that enrollment contracts typically establish a family's financial obligations, school policies, and expectations, making careful review important before signing.

The relationship between parents, students, and the school is determined by contract law. Can you tell us what that means?

The relationship between parents, students, and the school is based on a lot of documents, including the student/parent handbook, the code of conduct, the enrollment agreement, and more. The enrollment agreement, however, is the only legal contract, and it memorializes the relationship between the parents, students, and the school, binding the parties to the terms and conditions laid out in the agreement. The agreement assists schools in collecting tuition and fees in cases of non-payment and in assessing late fees in cases of late payment. However, a comprehensive agreement addresses far more than tuition and fees.

Private School Review's Handbooks provide additional context about the relationship between a school's enrollment contract and the

I have been interviewing applicants for employment for many years now. I used to be fooled by a certain type of applicant who presented extremely well at the interview. Unfortunately, a few months after hiring the applicant, things did not go as well as we had hoped. With my experiences in mind and knowing that many of you are operating your schools with very small staffs and also knowing that you do not interview many teachers in any given year, let's look at a couple of simple ways which will protect you from hiring a teacher who is not a good fit for your school.

How not to be fooled

"First impressions matter. Experts say we size up new people in somewhere between 30 seconds and two minutes." Elliott Abrams

I agree wholeheartedly with Elliott Abrams. You and I are accustomed to sizing people up in a very short time. Essentially we are using the same skill set which we use in the classroom. As we teach, we are constantly assessing how our students are absorbing and understanding the material, right? We have honed that skill set very finely. So bring it into play when you first meet an applicant.

This short video offers some useful tips on interviewing candidates.

Trust your instincts

You have to trust your instincts and your experience when you are interviewing teachers for your school. I put that

How sustainable is your school? This article is written with small to medium-sized schools in mind. Larger schools can plan and use professional resources of all kinds to ensure their sustainability for the future. On the other hand, small schools typically have limited resources, to begin with. So with this in mind, I want to look at three aspects of how your school runs and offer some suggestions as to how we can ensure it will run for many years to come. In other words, let's ensure that your school is sustainable and will continue to be sustainable for many more years.

We are going to look at two types of day schools: for-profit schools and not-for-profit schools. A large number of primary schools are what we would describe as for-profit schools. These are the kinds of schools that a well-intentioned, visionary educator has established because she believes in a certain teaching style and wants to reach a certain clientele in her local area. I use the description of well-intentioned advisedly because many of these wonderful people have great pedagogical ideas but lack the business experience to make their school an ongoing reality. Here are some practical steps that the owner of a small primary school should take to ensure that her school stays viable.

Develop a business plan.

When you started your school, you knew that it was not enough to think that you could budget for, say, 50 students and charge tuition at the market rate,